Charlotte wants limits on N.C. lottery sales

Oct 26, 2005, 12:33 pm (40 comments)

North Carolina Lottery

Charlotte leaders have asked North Carolina's new lottery commission to approve unusual rules that would limit ticket sales in "fragile" neighborhoods.

In a letter sent to commission members, city attorney Mac McCarley asked them to get feedback from local governments before determining whether ticket outlets are appropriate in certain areas.

He also asked that lottery outlets be at least 50 feet from a church or school.

"We don't want any business to become a magnet for trouble in the neighborhoods we've identified as fragile and threatened," McCarley said.

He said the city believes the most crucial factor is that stores be required to sell more than just tickets and alcohol, with at least half of sales coming from other items.

The suggested rules, which mirror those governing North Carolina's beer and wine sales, would be unusual for a state lottery, said officials with two national trade groups. In South Carolina, for example, lottery tickets can be sold anywhere except on college campuses, at rest areas and in some types of check-cashing outlets.

"Lottery ticket sales don't usually cause those kinds of issues or concerns," said Chuck Strutt, executive director of multi-state lottery commission.

The N.C. lottery commission meets today to start discussing what restrictions — if any — it should place on retail outlets.

Several commissioners this week said they liked Charlotte's ideas and plan to consider them.

Commission member Kevin Geddings of Charlotte noted that it would be an easy system to implement quickly because it's tried and proven.

Lottery Recommendations

When choosing lottery outlets, Charlotte officials asked the lottery commission to consider:

  • The number of places already selling tickets in the neighborhood.
  • Parking and traffic conditions.
  • The kinds of businesses in the neighborhood.
  • Whether it's within 50 feet of a church or school.
  • Whether the building complies with building and fire codes.
  • The reputation, character and criminal record of the retailer.
  • Recommendations of the local governing body.
  • Zoning laws.

The city also recommended that:

  • Contracts be revoked from any retailer with more than 50 percent of sales from the lottery, or the lottery plus beer and wine sales.
  • A portion of lottery sales proceeds be shared with local law enforcement to cover increased costs associated with lottery activity. (To come out of the lottery's administrative fund, not the money designated for education.)

Charlotte Observer

Comments

bellyache's avatarbellyache

How will these actions stop "fragile" people from buying lotto tickets? I think if someone is determined to buy a ticket they will find a store.

Bradly_60's avatarBradly_60

Oh my gosh I can't believe what I just read.  Those people down in North Carolina are the weirdest and most unusual people are think I ever heard of before.  I can't believe they would even attempt to do anything like this.  You can definetly tell NC must be a true crazy red state. 

Brad

Tenaj's avatarTenaj

BashIt's racial.  I'm a native Charlottean.  I'm not the type of person who would use the race card out of ignorance.  95% of convienient stores owners in this city are of ethnic orgin from other countries and are located in "fragile neighborhoods.  They are on almost every corner, like the churches.  No kidding, there is a church on almost every corner.  Guess where the most churches are located?......in "fragile neighborhoods" 

I'm ashame of the leaders in this city. 

speedracer

Tenaj, I'm with you on that.  NC, in my opinion, has got the most ignorant leaders a state could ever have! I'm ashamed! This is so STUPID!  I just can't say enough. GOD HELP US!MadChairEekScared

Chewie

You get what you vote for - in some cases, what you fail to vote for.  You can change representatives; used to be women couldn't vote. Getting rid of a half dozen men should be comparatively easy!

RJOh's avatarRJOh

North Carolina leaders aren't ignorant, just misguided.

Some years ago Ohio had some misguided people that convinced the State that the chance to to win large lottery jackpots was a bad thing and the State for a few months adopted a law that limited the amount that one lottery ticket could win to $20M annuity.  At the time people from the surrounding states played the Ohio lottery and jackpots of $40M-$70M were common.  After that, the jackpot amounts were lucky to reach $15M and the law was eliminated and Ohio never recovered.  Ohio learned people liked big lottery jackpots and they would travel to buy tickets.
 
In 2002 Ohio added the MegaMillions to keep lottery players in the state from traveling out of state to play the PowerBall and BigGame lotteries in adjacent states.  North Carolina will learn that if people can't buy lottery tickets in their neighborhood they will go to the ones that sell them.

wpb's avatarwpb

You are correct Chewie, however, when these people were voted in, there was not a option for the lottery.  Now they are in office and making decisions that can not be changed later.

Chewie

It is more difficult, but not impossible, to change laws. They said Concealed Carry laws would never happen; most of the states now have that law. If you can talk politicians into allowing citizens to carry firearms, you can get any law changed. You just have to be smarter then a politician, I'm not seeing that as a problem in NC.

Tenaj's avatarTenaj

North Carolina leaders aren't ignorant, just misguided.

Some years ago Ohio had some misguided people that convinced the State that the chance to to win large lottery jackpots was a bad thing and the State for a few months adopted a law that limited the amount that one lottery ticket could win to $20M annuity.  At the time people from the surrounding states played the Ohio lottery and jackpots of $40M-$70M were common.  After that, the jackpot amounts were lucky to reach $15M and the law was eliminated and Ohio never recovered.  Ohio learned people liked big lottery jackpots and they would travel to buy tickets.
 
In 2002 Ohio added the MegaMillions to keep lottery players in the state from traveling out of state to play the PowerBall and BigGame lotteries in adjacent states.  North Carolina will learn that if people can't buy lottery tickets in their neighborhood they will go to the ones that sell them.

Hit With StickNorth Carolina will learn that if people can't buy lottery tickets in their neighborhood they will go to the ones that sell them.

That's the point.  HELLO!  The money won't be going to low income neighborhood store owners.  The money will be going to "less fragile neighborhoods" 

Ladyluck2005's avatarLadyluck2005

"He also asked that lottery outlets be at least 50 feet from a church or school."

"He said the city believes the most crucial factor is that stores be required to sell more than just tickets and alcohol, with at least half of sales coming from other items."

 

Well then they should sell them in adult video stores....because those aren't allowed anywhere near Churches & Schools.  (I'm being sarcastic)

But I do agree with SOME of the rules that they want:

"When choosing lottery outlets, Charlotte officials asked the lottery commission to consider:

The number of places already selling tickets in the neighborhood. SC Does this...but its county wide (if I remember the law correctly)

Parking and traffic conditions.

Whether the building complies with building and fire codes.  (Because you know the North Carolinians will sit there all day scratchin off their tickets- they do it in SC- so that when they win they can turn around & buy more tickets & sit there & scratch some more Big Smile) "

These are some of the ones I agree with

Rip Snorter

This is hilarious.

Charlotte leaders have asked North Carolina's new lottery commission to approve unusual rules that would limit ticket sales in "fragile" neighborhoods.

As though the folks in Charlotte are caged into their neighborhoods.  Won't go over across town for a ticket.  The village I live in is seven miles from the nearest lottery outlet.  Wednesdays and Saturdays we tend to get better acquainted with one another waiting in line to buy Powerball tickets in Bernalillo.

He also asked that lottery outlets be at least 50 feet from a church or school.

Whew!  50 feet?  50 feet?  Guess those North Carolinians aren't much on walking.  50 big old feet's going to keep the good religious folks from being exposed to and offended by this vice.

"We don't want any business to become a magnet for trouble in the neighborhoods we've identified as fragile and threatened," McCarley said.

Ought to be interesting to see what they've identified as 'fragile' in the arena of neighborhoods.  I've got a feeling it's the toughest, stay-out-if-you-got-no-compelling-reason-to-be-there ones.  Which is to say, the absooooooooludle least fragile ones.

He said the city believes the most crucial factor is that stores be required to sell more than just tickets and alcohol, with at least half of sales coming from other items.

Good time for those NC liquer stores to go into the porn video business so's to keep the money coming in from other sources instead of just rotgut.  Maybe a cat-house upstairs.  Go into the sheets and pillowcases business along with rotgut, porn and lottery tickets.

"Lottery ticket sales don't usually cause those kinds of issues or concerns," said Chuck Strutt, executive director of multi-state lottery commission.

That's a flaw among the rest of us that needs some serious work.

Commission member Kevin Geddings of Charlotte noted that it would be an easy system to implement quickly because it's tried and proven.

Mostly proven back before the numbers racket was legal.

A portion of lottery sales proceeds be shared with local law enforcement to cover increased costs associated with lottery activity. (To come out of the lottery's administrative fund, not the money designated for education.)

I think things must be different other places than New Mexico.... wilder.  I see people talking about the 'fun' of playing the lottery and sometimes wonder exactly what they're referring to.  But now I think I'm getting the idea.  I live in a backward area.

Evidently in other states when you go to buy a lottery ticket you also get drunk, mugged, laid and end up backed into a corner with a broken beer bottle or chair leg watching the other players.

Fragile!

Jack

Bradly_60's avatarBradly_60

I know......yeah the lottery causes more crime....these people seriously need some education.  If they really think that then they need to step outside of their closed minded heads.  The lottery doesn't create crime.  Unlawful gambling does.  Unlawful gaming is where people rack up huge debts that they can't pay back and get wacked for.  Not for state sponsored gaming.  You tell me any state that has any problems with their lottery besides people claiming they have a winning ticket when in fact they don't.  ARRGGGG these people are making me mad.  If I lived in North Carolina I would defitnely be at open meetings to express my discontent. 

Is the fifty feet rule so that when lottery agents come to wack a guy for not paying for his $1 lottery purchase the kids and religious folk don't have to see it happen?  (Of course I am just kidding) 

Well anyway I think these people really need help.  Rebecca Paul (I think that is her name) are you reading to move again to another boarder state.  haha

Brad

DoubleDown

I'm sorry, I can't resist--

I can hear the conversations now-

She: "I went out the door of the trailer and across the street to go get me some scratchies and a pack of Marlboros , and while I was gone you made love with my cuzzin" !! "50 dam feet away and you waller around like an ol pig" !!

He:  " I make the payments on this trailer- I say what goes on in it " !!

Jerry,  Jerry !!!!!

Bradly_60's avatarBradly_60

haha...thanks for the laugh double down

Brad

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